Alumni connections spark new opportunities for WVU School of Public Health graduates
When West Virginia University graduates Mackenzie Hilliard and Arielle Warner agreed to serve on an alumni healthcare panel last fall, they knew they’d be sharing career insights and networking tips with current students in the program.
What they didn’t know is how the moment of connection—and using the same advice—would benefit their own career paths from then on.
WVU School of Public Health lays the foundation for early career success
Members of the School of Public Health Class of 2018, both Hilliard and Warner jumped into the workforce soon after graduation. Hilliard, who earned her Master of Public Health in health policy, management and leadership, worked her way up to regional manager of operations for Agilon Health in Austin, Texas. In her role, she acts as a liaison between primary care and multi-specialty physician offices and contracted health plans, playing a key role in assisting primary care groups transition over to value based care by empowering them to focus on the total care of their patients.
This success and career growth, she says, is a direct reflection of the experiences she gained from her time at the School of Public Health. She recalls being a young girl hoping for a future career that enabled her to help others —and says the program gave her the tools she needed to do just that.
“The School of Public Health at WVU gave me invaluable tools and experiences that prepared me to be a successful public health professional,” said Hilliard. “I was fortunate enough to learn from some of the best faculty members and mentors across a wide variety of professions in public health.”
Leading up to the moment she met Hilliard, Warner was immersed in healthcare operations and project management for the University of Maryland Medical Center. During her college career, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, which primed her for climbing the ladder in various roles at one of the largest healthcare systems in Baltimore. She echoes Hilliard’s testament of how WVU provided the foundational tools she needed to succeed early in her career.
“I chose WVU for my public health education because of the staff and program structure,” said Warner. “My professors were engaged in learning about my career aspirations and would often put me in touch with the right people to gain advice and insight.”
Thanks to alumni networking, two paths collide
For Warner, leaning on the WVU community as a catalyst for growth and connection proved successful even after graduation.
In the fall of 2021, Warner and Hilliard met for the first time as volunteer participants on a healthcare panel for a School of Public Health course, taught by Scot McIntosh, assistant dean for student affairs. They shared with students how they leveraged their experience at WVU to get hired and climb ranks within each of their companies.
After the panel, Warner reached out to Hilliard. Pleased with her experience, drive, and background, Hilliard shared information with Warner about open positions at Aglion Health.
“I didn’t know Arielle before the alumni panel, so it was by nature of both of us being on the alumni panel that we connected,” said Hilliard. “I gave her tips about jumping into the next space in her career —and the rest is history.”
Soon after their conversation, Warner applied for a manager of operations position on Hilliard’s team.
“We were so impressed with [Arielle] and quite honestly blown away with her professionalism, drive and skill set—needless to say, we offered her the job,” she said. “You never know what opportunities may lie ahead or what doors will open through the smallest of encounters.”
As manager of operations on Hilliard’s team, Warner oversees the successful planning and execution of critical projects and operations for multiple physician practices. It’s an opportunity, she says, born out of the power of networking.
“Networking was one of the game changers in my experience in the School of Public Health,” added Warner. “My advice to Public Health students would be to network and get as much experience under your belt as possible.”
As the two graduates work side by side to make waves in the field of public health, they credit the School of Public Health program for giving them the experience and skills to pursue their career passion.
“Public health is the future of healthcare,” said Hilliard. “I wake up every day and truly believe we are redefining healthcare. One day I will look back on how far we have come and know that I had a direct impact on how we define health, provide care, and stay well.”
Pictured above: Arielle Warner (left) and Mackenzie Hilliard (submitted photos).
CONTACT: Nikky Luna, Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Public Health
304.293.1699